Tamperproof cap for receptacle

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to tamperproof receptacles provided with a rotatable cap, the latter having an annular recess for reception of a flexible band that includes a latch and a manual control therefor, said latch cooperating with dimples on the neck of the receptacle to permit either free relative movement of the cap on the receptacle for complete removal or prevent movement thereof depending upon the position of the manual control.

United States Patent Inventor Hans Son'ne 4534 Horve, Denmark Appl. No. 836,321 Filed June 25, 1969 Patented May 11, 1971 Priority Jan. 31, 1969 Denmark 545/69 TAMPERPROOF CAP FOR RECEI'IACLE Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney-Edwin E. Greigg ABSTRACT: The invention relates to tamperproof receptacles provided with a rotatable cap, the latter having an annular 5 Claims 3 Drawing Figs recess for rece tion of a flexible band that includes a latch and P U.S. Cl 215/9 a manual control therefor, said latch cooperating with dimples Int. Cl 1161 1/00, on the neck of the receptacle to permit either free relative B65d 55/02 movement of the cap on the receptacle for complete removal Field of Search 215/9, 43, or prevent movement thereof depending upon the position of 95 the manual control.

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I? l i u- U Patehfd my 111, 1911 INVENTOR ATTORNEY T AMPERPROOF CAP FOR RECEIIACLE This invention relates to improvements in tamperproof rotatable caps for receptacles and is particularly adaptable for use on medicine bottles where it is desired to prevent access to the contents of the bottle by small children.

Although tamperproof receptacles are quite old and are well known, the devices known heretofore are of complicated construction and it has been found they irritate the consumer to such an extent that they object thereto and this is particularly so where the people who have to use the bottle are more or less feeble, old, or handicapped.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the invention is to create a simple constructed screw cap with a lock means therefor which is easy for all adults to handle, but which cannot be opened by small children.

The invention accomplishes this purpose by providing the screw cap with an annular recess or circular keyway. In this keyway a locking device, manually operable through an opening provided in the sidewall of the cap, can be shifted from a locked position (in which a hook on one terminal end portion of the flexible locking device is urged inwardly against the bottle neck along the circumference of which is provided a plurality of notches or dimples to engage the hook) to a neutral position in which the hook is freed of the notches.

If an unauthorized person or child attempts to unscrew the cap, the locking device through friction with the bottle neck is automatically shifted to its locked position so that the locking hook is moved into the first notch or dimple on the bottle neck. By manual operation of the locking device, by means of the outwardly extending actuator therefor, it may now be shifted to the neutral position, at which time the locking hook is freed from the particular dimple with which it is then engaged on the bottle neck.

Thus, one can unscrew the cap if they hold the outwardly extending locking lever constantly with one finger, thereby retaining it in its neutral position. It has proved impossible for small children to accomplish the removal of the cap from the bottle, whereas, on the other hand, it is easy for adults to remove the cap even though they are old or handicapped and have weak fingers.

Accordingly, the primary object of the invention is the provision of a tamperproof receptacle which is adapted to receive a rotatable cap with the latter having an annular recess for reception of a flexible band which may be constructed of any suitable plastic or thin metallic material provided with a latch and a manual control means therefor which cooperates with dimples provided on the neck of the receptacle to thereby permit either free relative movement of the cap on the receptacle for complete removal thereof, or prevent movement thereof, depending upon the position of the manual control.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a suitable cap which has a portion thereof threaded for attachment to a receptacle and adjacent to the threaded area is an enlarged annular recess which is adapted to receive the flexible locking band. The cap further includes an opening in one sidewall portion thereof which receives a manual control lever that is made integral with the flexible band. Substantially diametrically opposite from the opening in the sidewall of the cap is a concave recess into which the hook provided at the terminal free end portion of the flexible band may extend when the actuator is in the proper position so that the cap may be removed by an authorized person.

The invention will be better understood and-further objects and advantages will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a medicine bottle with a screw cap with lock according to the invention, viewed from the side;

FIG. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Turning now to the drawings, the receptacle 10, which will be referred to hereinafter as a medicine bottle,has a reduced, cylindrical neck portion provided with circumferentially spaced notches 11. Thread means 12 for reception of a screw cap 13 are provided thereabove. By referring at this time to FIGS. 2 and 3,'it will be noted that the screw cap I3 is provided at the lower inner portion thereof with an annular groove 14 which is arranged to receive a relatively thin band of flexible material 15, one terminal end portion of which is provided with a right angularly disposed lock means 16 for a purpose that will become apparent as the description progresses.

By referring at this time to FIG. 2, it will be noted that this flexible band 15 is provided with an outwardly extending enlarged portion or actuator 17, which is arranged to project through the opening 18 provided in the sidewall of the cap 13.

In FIG. 2 it will be observed that diametrically opposite from the opening 18 within which the enlarged portion protruding from the band 15 extends, there is a concave recess I 19 provided in the cap which receives the terminal end portion of the strip 15 when the bottle cap is in such a position as it is freely rotatable relative to the threads 12 on the bottle to thereby pennit removal of the cap therefrom. Thus, when the cap 13 is screwed on the top in the conventional manner, the flexible band 15 through friction against the bottle neck portion will be turned to the neutral position shown in FIG. 2 during the course of which the locking hook 16 cannot be engaged with the notches l l. 1

It is believed that it will now be apparent from the foregoing that if a person tries to remove the cap 13 from the bottle, the flexible band 15 because of its friction against the bottle neck will be turned clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2, thereby causing the enlarged portion carried by the flexible band, i.e., the actuator knob 17, to move into a new position in the enlarged area and can continue to move until it abuts against the wall 19. However, it will also be appreciated that this operation will then cause the hook 16 secured to the terminal portion of band 15 to be pressed into one of the notches on the outside of the bottle, thus preventing removal of the cap.' Accordingly, it is now impossible to unscrew the cap 13 inasmuch as the flexible band 15 is firmly coupled together with the neck of the bottle.

If, on the other hand, one wishes to open the bottle, he can push with the index finger or the thumb against the knob 17 and return it to its neutral position as best shown in FIG. 2 and by holding the knob in that position while unscrewing the cap 13, it can be readily removed from the bottle 10. It is believed to be manifest that it will be more or less impossible for small children to accomplish this because they will not realize that it is necessary to first move the knob 17 from its locking position to its neutral position where it must be held while the cap is unscrewed.

Iclaim:

1. In a tamperproof locking means for receptacles having an annular neck portion, a threaded area, and a rotatable internally threaded cap for cooperation therewith, the combination comprising, circumferentially spaced locking means on the neck portion of said receptacle, a flexible locking means for cooperation therewith, said internally threaded cap being provided with a recess for reception of said flexible locking means, manually operable actuating means for the flexible locking means, and means defining an opening in said rotatable cap to provide access to said actuating means to thereby cause the flexible locking means to be engaged with and disengaged from the circumferential locking means.

2. In a tamperproof locking means for receptacles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means defining the opening in said rotatable cap has a width at least twice that of the manually operable actuating means arranged to cooperate therewith.

3. In a tamperproof locking means for receptacles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess in the rotatable cap includes a concave area diametrically opposed relative to the means defining the opening in said cap.

4. In a tamperproof locking means for receptacles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circumferentially spaced locking means on said neck portion comprise dimples.

5. In a'tampei'pfoof locking means for receptacles as claimed in claim 4, wherein the flexible locking means includes a terminal portion arranged to cooperate with at least one of said dimples. 

1. In a tamperproof locking means for receptacles having an annular neck portion, a threaded area, and a rotatable internally threaded cap for cooperation therewith, the combination comprising, circumferentially spaced locking means on the neck portion of said receptacle, a flexible locking means for cooperation therewith, said internally threaded cap being provided with a recess for reception of said flexible locking means, manually operable actuating means for the flexible locking means, and means defining an opening in said rotatable cap to provide access to said actuating means to thereby cause the flexible locking means to be engaged with and disengaged from the circumferential locking means.
 2. In a tamperproof locking means for receptacles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means defining the opening in said rotatable cap has a width at least twice that of the manually operable actuating means arranged to cooperate therewith.
 3. In a tamperproof locking means for receptacles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess in the rotatable cap includes a concave area diametrically opposed relative to the means defining the opening in said cap.
 4. In a tamperproof locking means for receptacles as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circumferentially spaced locking means on said neck portion comprise dimples.
 5. In a tamperproof locking means for receptacles as claimed in claim 4, wherein the flexible locking means includes a terminal portion arranged to cooperate with at least one of said dimples. 